Myanmar military promises fresh vote

Myanmar’s military junta guaranteed on

Tuesday that it would hold an election and hand over power, denied its ouster of an elected government was a coup or that its leaders were detained, and accused protesters of violence and intimidation. The junta’s justification of its February 1 seizure of power and arrest of government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others came as protesters again took to the streets and after a UN envoy warned the army of “severe consequences” for any harsh response to the demonstrations. “Our objective is to hold an election and hand power to the winning party,” Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the ruling council, said. The military has not given a date for a new election. On Tuesday, protesters milled onto a stretch of railway track waving placards in support of the disobedience movement and blocking services between Yangon and the city of Mawlamyine.